The 2023/2024 review period for the Office of the University General Counsel (OUGC) was marked by proactive engagement and strategic alignment with The University of the West Indies (The UWI). This year presented dynamic legal challenges and opportunities, yet the OUGC remained dedicated to strengthening institutional resilience and enhancing adaptability. In addition to providing routine legal counsel and governance support, the OUGC focused on initiatives promoting innovation in service delivery, fostering inter-campus collaboration, and advancing the University’s global mission. The report illustrates the OUGC’s commitment to preserving The UWI’s legacy while positioning it for sustainable growth in a complex academic and legal environment.

A significant part of the OUGC’s efforts was dedicated to expanding access to tertiary education through strategic collaborations and partnerships. Aligned with The UWI’s ‘Triple A’ Strategy, the OUGC facilitated various agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), enhancing institutional capacities across the Caribbean and beyond. Examples of this work included drafting and executing franchise agreements with PREU Polytech and Brown’s Town Community College. Additionally, the OUGC facilitated over twenty student exchange agreements with institutions such as Drexel and Colgate University in the USA and the University of Botswana, thus reinforcing educational access and collaboration.

The OUGC also played a crucial role in renewing important contracts with leading enterprise system providers like Oracle PeopleSoft, Ellucian, and Turnitin. These renewals are essential for maintaining the efficiency of UWI’s internal operations, which encompass human resources, finance management, student admissions, and course registration.

Regarding scholarships and endowments, the OUGC facilitated three significant agreements during the reporting period, reflecting The UWI’s commitment to promoting access to tertiary education, a cornerstone of the ‘Triple A Strategic Plan.’ Among these, the Elsie Merle DeLisser Scholarship, valued at one million Jamaican dollars, and the thirteen scholarships under the Intra- Caribbean Academic Mobility Programme (ICAMP) were noteworthy. Another critical agreement was the OAS-UWI PAEC Scholarship Agreement, co-sponsored with the Organisation of American States, offering up to 41 scholarships across UWI campuses. The OUGC also executed a merger of two endowments to streamline scholarship administration and increase management efficiency, aligning with shared objectives in medical sciences education.

The OUGC further advanced the alignment between industry and academia, focusing on wealth creation and distribution through strategic alignment in pension reform. Key efforts were directed at campus-wide pension reforms at the Five Islands Campus, addressing staff concerns while ensuring legal compliance. The OUGC provided a thorough legal opinion on pension arrangements for Administrative, Technical, and Service (ATS) staff, leading to extensive consultations with stakeholders, including Sagicor, the insurance provider. It was later agreed that the ATS pension scheme would take effect on August 1, 2024, along with a payment structure for staff that represented The UWI’s standard pension contribution.

Moreover, the OUGC emphasized governance compliance and continued to address critical issues related to the Federated Superannuation System for Universities (FSSU). Through meetings with fund managers and legal discussions, the OUGC initiated the formal registration process to enhance regulatory oversight and ensure compliance with jurisdictional requirements.

In summary, the OUGC actively reinforced The UWI’s mission through strategic partnerships, scholarship facilitation, operational enhancements, and governance reforms, ensuring institutional growth and resilience in a complex landscape.